Backboard-mounting structure

ABSTRACT

A basketball backboard is supported at the lower end of a first generally downwardly and forwardly inclined superstructure. The first superstructure is mounted at its upper end for pivotal movement. Hingedly connected to the superstructure adjacent to the backboard is a second generally upwardly and forwardly inclined superstructure, or brace member, having a knee joint. The upper end of the brace member is also mounted for pivotal movement. A first pulley is mounted adjacent the upper mounting point of the brace member, a second pulley is mounted on the first superstructure adjacent the mounting point of the brace member, and a third pulley is mounted to the first superstructure at about the level of the knee joint in the brace member. A cable extends from a takeup device, over the first pulley, along the brace member, around the second pulley, along the first superstructure, around the third pulley, and is fastened to the brace member adjacent the knee joint. A stop member is mounted on the cable between the second and third pulleys. On takeup, tension along the full length of the cable causes the knee joint to break and starts raising the backboard. When the stop member engages the second pulley it changes the effective point of attachment from adjacent the knee joint to the second pulley, thereby reducing the amount of cable which needs be taken up.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Eugene M. Sorensen Lake Forest. Ill.

[2l] 7 Appl. No. 737,559

(22] Filed June 17, 1968 [45] Patented Aug. 10, 1971 [73] Assignee Sorenseu-Chrbtian Industries, Inc.

Angier, N.C.

{54] BACKBOARD-MOUNTING STRUCTURE 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 273/15 R, 248/320 [5 l 1 Int. Cl. A63b 63/04 (50] Field olSearch 273/15;

Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner- PaulE. Shapiro Atl0rney-John G. Mills ABSTRACT: A basketball backboard is supported at the lower end of a first generally downwardly and forwardly inclined superstructure. The first superstructure is mounted at its upper end for pivotal movement. Hing'edly connected to the superstructure adjacent to the backboard is a second generally upwardly and forwardly inclined superstructure, or brace member, having a knee joint. The upper end of the brace member is also mounted for pivotal movement. A first pulley is mounted adjacent the upper mounting point of the brace member, a second pulley is mounted on the first superstructure adjacent the mounting point of the brace member, and a third pulley is mounted to the first superstructure at about the level of the knee joint in the brace member. A cable extends from a takeup device, over the first pulley, along the brace member, around the second pulley, along the first superstructure, around the third pulley, and is fastened to the brace member adjacent the knee joint. A stop member is mounted on the cable between the second and third pulleys. On takeup, tension along the full length of the cable causes the knee joint to break and starts raising the backboard. When the stop member engages the second pulley it changes the effective point of attachment from adjacent the knee joint to the second pulley, thereby reducing the amount of cable which needs be taken up.

' PATENTEUAUGIOIQn 3,598,)?

sum 1 ur 36 EUGENE M- SOQENQEN \A A A A 1 I INVENTOR.

By fz m ATTORNEY PATENTEflAuslmsn 3,598,407

sum 2 UF 2 EUGENE M. SORENQEN INVENTOR. 6 MM WV L- AWORNEX This invention relates to athletic equipment and more particularly to foldable basketball backboard support structure.

In the past, various types of structures have been used to support basketball backboards. Many of these'structures have included various means and methods for folding thestructure and its associated backboard out of the way when not in use so that other sportingtypeevents may be conducted without obstruction. l I

in recent years, most new backboard installations have been using transparent backboards because of their spectator seethroughability and their uniformity in rebound characteristics. The continued use, however, of the same type of supporting structures that were developed prior to the advent of the transparent board has left an unsightly and distracting, mass'of'supports and braces clearly in view of players and spectators alike.

Some attempts have been made to overcome'these disadvantages by mounting the new glass boards on single or unitary'supports. Because of the size and weight involved in such units to make them rigid enough, they have been limited to portable backboards which are mounted on wheels and are rolled into position during play and which may be rolled to other areas for storage when not in use. None of these units have been adapted to the so-called permanent backboard installations which in one manner or another fold out of the way either against a wall of the rafters of the gymnasium.

After muchresearch and study into the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has been developed to overcome the inherent disadvantages of either having a myriad of supports and braces clearly visible in front of the board or, in the alternative, eliminating these but having to go to the portsble board with its natural disadvantages over the foldable board because of weight and size limitations. This invention allows a clear unobstructed view through the board while providing a strong unshakeable, yet foldable, permanent installation-type system to be used which is inexpensive to maintain and yet not of exorbitant initial cost.

it is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a permanently installed, foldable basketball backboard support structure which is steady and rigid when in use and yet is lightweight and inexpensive in construction.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and obvious from a study of the following description and the accompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of the present invention.

in the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front eievational view of the support structure of the present invention as used in conjunction with a regulation size, transparent basketball backboard;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view ofthe same in playing position and in a partially folded position; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational of the connecting and adjusting means between the support structure and the board.

With further reference to the drawings, a generally rectanguiar superstructure support frame indicated generally at 11 is adapted to be horizontally suspended from and attached to the rafters or other building structure where the device of the present invention is installed. This frame ii is composed of, as viewed from the playing area or court, a front frame member 12. a rear frame member 13. a left frame member l4 and a right frame member l5.

Disposed generally parallel with and hingedly attached to the rear frame member 13 by hinge means i6 is support member 17 of the rear superstructure indicated generally at 18.

The main support member 19 has one end thereof fixedly secured to the central portion of support member 17 and perpendicularly depends therefrom. i

A left brace member 20 has one end fixedly secured to the left end portion of support member 17 as viewed from the playing court area. The downwardly depending right brace member 21 has one end fixedly secured to the right-hand portion of said support member.

To strengthen and brace the rear superstructure indicated generally at 18 are a series of generally horizontally disposed strengthen members 22 connecting;the left and right brace members respectively to the main support frame 19, and a series of cross brace members 23 fixedly secured between the same members as said strengthen members.

Fixedly secured between the left brace member 20 and the main support member 19; and the right brace member 21 and I said main support member are, respectively, front superstructure connecting members 24 and 25. To each of these connecting members is fixedly secured hinge means 26 which are adapted to hingedly connect with the lower'ends of lower front supportmembers 26 and 27. The upper ends of these lower front support members terminate in knee means 28 which hingedly connect such members to upper front support members 29 and 30. The upper end of these last-mentioned support members terminate in a hinge means 31 which pivotably connects such members to front frame member 12 of support frame 11.

One connecting the lowersupport members and one connecting the upper support members and both in the area of the knee means 28 are a pair of spacer braces 32.

Perpendicularly disposed from and fixedly secured to the lower end of main support frame 19 is a generally inverted U- shaped backboard-mounting member 33. The depending or downwardly projecting portions 34 of this last-mentioned member are adapted to each to receive a pivot pin or bolt 33. A board support frame 36 is secured about the periphery of the board face 37. A slot 38 is provided in the lower portion of each side of the board support frame 36 so that mounting tab 39 may be adjustably secured to said frame by means such as bolts 40. Thus it can be seen. particularly from the enlarged view in FIG. 3, that tabs 39 pivotsbly join the lower portion of frame 36 to portions 34 for a hinging action about pin 35.

Between the upper portion of frame 36 and mounting member 33 is a longitudinally adjustable turn buckle-type support linkage 41. Preferably there are a pair of these linkages extending from the upper portion of each of the depending portions 34 to, respectively, the upper right-hand and the upper left-hand corner of the generally rectangular-shaped support frame 36.

To lift or fold the device of the present invention, a cable 42 is connected atone end to the spacer brace 32 connecting the lower front support members 26. The cable then rotatively passes through pulley 44 which is secured to the lower portion of the main support member 19. Said cable then passes in front of spacer braces 32, through pulley 4S, and on into a cable takeup device (not shown) such as winch or the like. Fixedly secured to the cable 42 between pulleys 43 and 44 at approximately one foot above said last mentioned pulley is a stop. means 46. The purpose of this stop is to accelerate the folding of the device of the present invention as will hereinafter be set forth.

OPERATlON in actual operation of the backboard-mounting structure of the present invention. the board 37 is lowered to the position shown by the solid lines in the figures. The bolts or adjusting means 40 may be loosen and adjustments made to assure horizontal disposition and exact correct height of the rim 47 of basket 48 from the floor.

To assure proper vertical alignment of the board relative to tilt, the turn buckle-type linkages 41 may be rotated so that their thread portions 41' will move the top of frame 36 either toward or away from the mounting member 33. j j I Once the proper adjustments and alignments have been made, each time the board is folded into playing position additional adjustments should not be necessary. Should the board, however, slip or otherwise come out of proper alignment, the same can readily be corrected as hereinabove described.

Whenever the-structure of the present invention is'not being used for athletic purposes, it may be folded out of the way until needed again. To do this, the cable takeup means (not shown) is activated which draws cable 42 in the'direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 2. This pulling on the cable places a slight rearward pressure against the knee portion 28 of the front superstructure indicated generally at 49 because the cable travel between pulleys 45 and 44 is not in a straight line but passes in front of the spacer braces 32. The tension on the cable passes around pulleys 44 and 43 and exerts an inward pressure on the lower frame support members. This pressure or pulling pivots the forward superstructure 49 inwardly just enough to break the joint 28 between the upper and lower support members 27 and 30. Once this portion of the device is broken, the stop 46 engages pulley 44 to prevent additional takeup of the section of cable between the lower support members and said last-mentioned pulley. The takeup of the cable from pulley 44 through pulley 45 is used in raising the rear superstructure 18 from a depending position to a generally horizontal position. If it were not for stop 46. a block and tacklev action would continue thereby requiring much more cable takeup per foot of raised superstructure than is required by relatively fixing the cable 42 at pulley 44 by said stop 46.

The takeup means (not shown) can continue to take up cable 42 until the device is completely folded and pulleys 44 and 45 are disposed adjacent each other. The takeup means should then be stopped either by an automatic means (not shown) such as a solenoid or by manual means (not shown) such as a switch.

Whenever it is desired to again lower the device of the present invention into the playing position, all that is necessary is to relax the tension on cable 42 which allows the same to play out. The weight of the structure will cause it to move by gravity downwardly until it reaches the maximum extent of its downward travel limits. it has been found in actual practice that the knee means 28 will automatically, because of the weight of the superstructure l8. lock itself in the position shown in FIG. 2 without auxiliary power or pressure.

From the above. it is obvious that the present'invention has the advantage of being simpler in construction and operation than the devices heretofore used while at the same time providing for vertical, twist, and tilt adjustments of the backboard. The present invention also has the advantage of eliminating unsightly and distracting braces and superstrucvenience of the foregoing specification and the appended claims to describe the backboard-mounting structure and its parts as viewed from the playing court and as oriented in the drawings. it is to be understood, however, that these terms are in no way limiting to the invention since the structure may obviously be viewed from and disposed in many different positions when in use.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

1 claim:

1. in a support device having a rigid first superstructure depending from an elevated frame means and terminating in an inverted U-shaped mounting member. a second folding kneetype superstructure depending from an elevated frame means divergently toward said first superstructure and hingedly connected thereto above said mounting member, the improvement comprising: a cable means operatively connected through at least one pulley means between said second saperstructure. said firstsuperstructure and an elevated frame means, and at least one stop means secured to said cable means adjacent said pulley means whereby when said cable is pulled toward said frame said stop means engages said pulley means just after the knee of said second superstructure is broken thereby reducing the amount ofcable takeup required to raise the overall support device.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein a basketball backboard is adjustably attached to said mounting member. 

1. In a support device having a rigid first superstructure depending from an elevated frame means and terminating in an inverted U-shaped mounting member, a second folding knee-type superstructure depending from an elevated frame means divergently toward said first superstructure and hingedly connected thereto above said mounting member, the improvement comprising: a cable means operatively connected through at least one pulley means between said second superstructure, said first superstructure and an elevated frame means; and at least one stop means secured to said cable means adjacent said pulley means whereby when said cable is pulled toward said frame said stop means engages said pulley means just after the knee of said second superstructure is broken thereby reducing the amount of cable takeup required to raise the overall support device.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein a basketball backboard is adjustably attached to said mounting member. 